The Spanish Fly - Travels in Spain

I've written about the Spanish version of National Geographic before. Isn't it an amazing publication?

I picked up the latest copy (no. 309) at the weekend because the portada proclaimed features about Alsace in France and Cordoba, here in Spain, both places I know and love.

Imagine my surprise when, on flicking through this high quality travel magazine, I discovered articles about Alava, Teruel, Cuenca, Picos de Europa, Vigo, Alcala de Henares, Tenerife, Andorra, and la Rioja.

[Courtesy of Viajes National Geographic]    

There were also features on Vienna (Austria), Warsaw (Poland), Pompei (Italy), Dominican Republic, Egypt, and Antarctica.

And the magazine only cost 6 euros. Amazing!

Alsace

A beautiful region which has fluctuated between French and German control over the centuries. It's simply stunning! I've been a  few times. Strasbourg is not to be missed. My most memorable visit was to Annecy around 1973 when we visited Trish, a fellow university student, and her French boyfriend, Guillaume.

    Annecy, Alsace [Photo: Francia]

Cordoba

Until recently Cordoba was my favourite of the eight Andalusian capitals, but then I discovered Cadiz!

Nevertheless, I've been to Cordoba a few times, each visit with a different female companion: my first wife, my subsequent girlfriend and my second, and current wife.

The Mezquita, the Alcazar and the Juderia are simply magnificent, unique, and magical.

    [www.mezquitadecordoba.org]

Alava

I've not been to this Basque town in Vitoria province, but it looks very impressive.

We really must go.

    Alava, Vitoria [Photo: viajero cronico]

Teruel

In Aragon, in the north-east of Spain. Despite its small population (36,000) it's the provincial capital.

I visited for half a day in 1998 with a girlfriend.

Charming - the town and the girlfriend!

    Teruel [Wikipedia]

Cuenca

Ronda's twin town, it's a spectacular place, with two tajos (gorges), and the famous casas colgadas (hanging houses). 

Lots to see and do round about.

However, I still prefer Ronda.

    Cuenca [Spain.info]

Picos de Europa

What a delightful area. I first discovered it when I led a school trip to Isla on the coast.

Subsequently I returned several times, with family.

I love this natural paradise.

Easy to get to the capital, Santander, with Brittany Ferries from either Plymouth or Portsmouth.

    [Photo: Escapada Rural]

Alcala de Henares

East of Madrid, it has the nearest parador to the capital, Madrid.

A pleasant provincial town with good bars and restaurants.

    Alcala de Henares [Trip Advisor]                  Alcala Parador [Video: YouTube]

Tenerife

I've been to Tenerife a load of times. Guaranteed winter sun.

I love the north of the island around Puerto de la Cruz and La Orotava.

Less keen on the touristy south, eg Playa de las Americas and Playa del Ingles.

    [Map courtesy of Con Billete de Ida y Vuelta]

We were invited to a wedding on the island in 2005. Candy and Carlos were a young couple we met by chance at a picnic site and we hit it off straightaway.

They soon had a child, but sadly they divorced not long after they were married.

    La Orotava wedding [Con Sonrisa de  Beatriz]

Andorra

Jeryl and I visited there with our friends Mel and Hilary who were living in nearby Olot (Gerona).

I can't remember much about the visit.

    Andorra [Wikipedia]

La Rioja

One of the most celebrated wine regions of Spain. We visited briefly many years ago.

    Map of La Rioja [Pagina de Paco]

Vigo

In Galicia. Not made it there yet but it's on my "bucket list" for 2026.

    Vigo [Spain.info]

Elsewhere

Vienna (Austria)

I visited the Austrian capital with my first wife Jeryl back in the 1980s.

We liked it. Spectacular architecture, including Baroque palaces and gardens, and the late-19th-century Ringstrasse, which is lined with grand buildings, monuments and parks.

    [Photo of Vienna courtesy of Cheap Flights Club]

Vienna is renowned for its rich musical heritage, having been home to many celebrated classical composers, including Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Schoenberg, Schubert, Johann Strauss I, and Johann Strauss II. 

The city also gave us the world's first psychoanalyst, Sigmund Freud.

Warsaw (Poland)

I've not been here yet, but it's on the list.

When I get to Warsaw, maybe in 2026, I also fancy a trip to Pilzen, the home of beer style Pils, and Gdansk, formerly German Danzig.

    Warsaw [Wikipedia]

Pompei (Italy)

I've not been here either.

In fact, I've never been to Italy. Isn't that ridiculous?

It's high time I went, isn't it?

    [Photo: La Vanguardia]

Dominican Republic

I've not been to this Caribbean country either, but I did enjoy a brief liaison with a lovely lady from that republic which occupies the eastern part of the island of Hispaniola.

She had emigrated to Spain with her daughter in search of a better life.

    [BBC] 

She was a great cook and ran a restaurant near Ronda for a time.

Then she moved away to the coast.

Egypt

To my embarrassment I have never set foot in Africa, although Morocco has made it onto my "bucket list" for 2026.

Egypt looks absolutely amazing, but it's not a priority for me.

    [Wikipedia]

Antarctica

The  closest I ever got to the home of the South Pole was South Australia.

Even in summer the ocean was freezing!

    Antarctica [Photo: Live Science]

© The Spanish Fly (alias Paul Whitelock)

Photos and Images:

BBC, Cheap Flights Club, Con Billete de Ida y Vuelta, Con Sonrisa de  Beatriz, Escapada  Rural, Francia, La Vanguardia, Live Science, Pagina de Paco, Spain.info, Trip Advisor, viajero cronico, Viajes National Geographic, Wikipedia, YouTube  

Acknowledgements:

Jeryl Whitelock Burgess, Maude Mary Jackson, Paul Whitelock, Rita Whitelock, The Spanish Fly, Viajes National Geographic, Wikipedia,

Tags:

Alava, Alcala de Henares, Alcazar, Alsace, Andorra, Annecy, Antarctica, BBC, Cheap Flights Club, Con Billete de Ida y Vuelta, Con Sonrisa de  Beatriz, Cordoba, Cuenca, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Escapada  Rural, Francia, Juderia, La Rioja, La Vanguardia, Live Science, Mezquita, Pagina de Paco, Picos de Europa, Pompei, Spain.info, Strasbourg, Tenerife, Teruel, The Spanish Fly, Trip Advisor, viajero cronico, Viajes National Geographic, Vienna, Vigo, Warsaw, Wikipedia, YouTube  

Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Haydn, Mahler, Mozart, Schoenberg, Schubert, Johann Strauss I, Johann Strauss II, Sigmund Freud.

SUR in English has just produced a supplement about the attractions of Southern Spain. They plan to take it to The World Travel Market in London where they have a stand to promote Andalucia to a world-wide audience. It runs from 4-6 November, this coming week.

The supplement is excellent with great writing from SUR in English journalists including Anya Soares, Daryl Finch, Javier Amellones, Jennie Rhodes, Pilar Martinez and Tony Bryant.

[SUR in English]    

I know every place they covered and have written about many of them myself, albeit from a different perspective. The articles in the supplement are well-researched and make interesting reading.

Let's take a look

Going in the order of the supplement, here are some of the highlights:

Andalucia

Daryl Finch has written a great introduction to Andalucia.

He covers Malaga, Sevilla, Cordoba, Granada, Cadiz, Huelva, Jaen and Almeria.

A prolific writer and fluent Spanish-speaker, he does these places proud.

    [SUR in English]

Links to other articles:

ANDALUCIA’s 3 C’s: Cádiz, Córdoba, Ciudad Soñada - Help me, Ronda

CADIZ - Help me, Ronda

El diario británico 'The Sun' recomienda visitar Cádiz por su gastronomía y su "ambiente diferente"

In Love with SEVILLA - at last! - Help me, Ronda

MALAGA CITY - Help me, Ronda

Unsung cities: Cadiz - a light less ordinary | City breaks | The Guardian

ZAHARA DE LOS ATUNES, CAÑOS DE MECA, TRAFALGAR and BARBATE - Help me, Ronda

I've been to Huelva and Almeria also but didn't write about either place. I did write about Granada, but cannot find the article! Doh!

Western Costa del Sol

Tony Bryant covers Torremolinos, Fuengirola, Mijas, Benalmadena, Puerto Banus, Marbella, Estepona, and Manilva.

He lives in the area and is a regular columnist for SUR in English.

    [SUR in English]

Link to another article:

OUR DAY OUT - on the Costa del Sol - Help me, Ronda

Malaga

Málaga City is a revelation! OK, there are lots of roadworks and building sites in the centre of the city, which are a bit of a nuisance.

But they will no doubt turn out to be a good thing in the longer term.

    Malaga city [Spain.info]

Link:

MALAGA CITY - Help me, Ronda

La Axarquia

An excellent piece by Jennie Rhodes, who lives in the Axarquia.

Earlier this year I went on a Press Tour of the area, which had been co-ordinated by Jennie in conjunction with the local Tourist Board.

Jennie is a fluent Spanish-speaker with an honours degree from Leeds University.

    [SUR in English]

Links to my articles:

Axarquia Press Trip - Eye on Spain

NERJA - A LITTLE GEM - Help me, Ronda

Costa del Golf

Golf is big on the Costa del Sol.

I don't play, but I have been to a few golf courses as a member of the Press.

I've also enjoyed a coffee at the Parador del Golf.

[andalucia.org]   

Costa de Almeria

Almeria offers unique beaches, rich heritage, vibrant culture, unspoilt nature and first-class gastronomy that awakens the senses and creates unforgettable experiences.

I was there over forty years ago. We had a great time but there is no written record of our visit. Back then there was no internet, and anything I may have written has disappeared into ..... no idea!

The article in the supplement about Cabo de Gata by Anya Soares makes fascinating reading.

Anya is doing a placement with SUR in English as part of her degree course in journalism.

As a consequence of Anya's article a visit to Cabo de Gata is on my "bucket list" for 2026.

    [SUR in English]

Mijas

There is Mijas Pueblo up in the hills and Mijas Costa or Cala de Mijas down on the coast. Both are great, but in different ways.

Mijas Pueblo is enchanting, despite being full of "guiris" and being very expensive to eat, shop and buy property.

Mijas Pueblo [Visita Costa del Sol]    

Mijas Costa is one of my favourite beaches on the Costa del Sol. Also full of "guiris" -  residents and tourists -  it's also a working town. And you don't have to talk to the foreigners, do you?

The beach is splendid, lots of yellow sand, easy swimming and a great coastal path.

There's a great shopping centre just inland, if you're that way inclined.

Mijas Costa [Hoteles.net]    

Unspoilt beaches, dunes and diving on the eastern Costas

Jennie Rhodes has put together an excellent piece about eastern Malaga and the Costa Tropical (Granada).

Her article takes in Rincon de la Victoria, Torre del Mar, Torrox, and Nerja, before crossing the border into Granada province and La Herradura, and Almuñecar.

Aerial view of Nerja [La Sexta]    

BIRTHDAY OUTING TO FRIGILIANA - Help me, Ronda

NERJA - A LITTLE GEM - Help me, Ronda

Granada

Granada is a spectacular city. The Alhambra is stunning and just down the hill the Casco Antiguo is a delight. 

To the north are snow-capped mountains and if you look south you can see the sun-drenched coast and the Costa Tropical.

    The Alhambra [Wikipedia]                                        Costa Tropical [Granada Spain]

Head Inland for fun and adventure in Malaga province

Jennie Rhodes writes about a maze in Humilladero .....

olive oil in LA Almazara in Ronda ..... 

and a zip-wire experience at Sunview Park in Alhaurin de la Torre.

    LA Almazara, Ronda [Areall]

Malaga, a cycling paradise

This excellent article is unattributed, yet it describes fantastic cycling routes which I have only travelled by car.

There are routes in the Serrania de Ronda and in other inland locations.

    Overlooking Zahara reservoir [Secret Serrania]

Malaga's cave art

Malaga province has some twelve caves. I have visited a few: Nerja, Cueva de la Pileta (Benaojan), Cueva del Gato (Benaojan), Cueva del Hundidero (Montejaque) and Ardales.

    Cueva de la Pileta                                                  Cueva del Gato                        Cueva del Hundidero

    [Above photos by Paul Whitelock]

Remote business and digital nomads

Daryl Finch and Pilar Martinez inform us that between 11 and 12 per cent of passengers arriving at Malaga airport now travel for work-related reasons.

Many are digital nomads who have a special visa.

    [Photo: Iberdrola]

A gateway to the world

This article by Daryl Finch is about the expansion of the airport, which is already the third busiest in Spain after Madrid and El Prat de Llobregat (Barcelona).

    [The Olive Press]

The End

© The Spanish Fly (Paul Whitelock)

Pix:

Areall, Granada Spain, Hoteles.net, Iberdrola, La Sexta, SUR in English, Paul Whitelock, Secret Serrania, Spain.info, The Olive Press, Visita Costa del Sol, Wikipedia

Thanks:

Costa Press Club, Jennie Rhodes, Paul Whitelock, The Spanish Fly, Wikipedia

Tags:

4-6 November, advertorial, Alhaurin de la Torre, Almeria, Almuñecar, Andalucia, Anya Soares, Ardales, Axarquia, Barcelona, Benalmadena, Benaojan, "bucket list", Cabo de Gata, Cadiz, cave art, Cordoba, Costa de Almeria, Costa del Golf, Costa del Sol, Costa Tropical, Cueva de la Pileta, Cueva del Hundidero, Daryl Finch, digital nomad, eastern Malaga, El Prat de Llobregat, Estepona, expansion of the airport, Fuengirola, Gibraltar, golf, Granada, Hiking in the Ronda Mountains, Hoteles.net, Huelva, Humilladero, Jaen, Javier Almellones, Jennie Rhodes, La Herradura, LA Almazara, London, Madrid, Malaga, Malaga-based bank, Manilva, Marbella, maze, Mijas, Montejaque, Nerja, olive oil, Parador del Golf, Paul Whitelock, Pilar Martinez, Puerto Banus, Rincon de la Victoria, Ronda, Sevilla, Spain, Sunview Park, SUR in English, The Olive Press, The Spanish Fly, third busiest airport, Tony Bryant, Torre del Mar, Torremolinos, Torrox, Unicaja, Visita Costa del Sol, Wikipedia, World Travel Market, zip-wire

I love San Sebastian (Gipuzkoa)! The moment I arrived there at Easter 1971, late at night, aged just 20, I was hooked. Forget the Day 2 hangover - the worst of my life - I decided Spain was for me.

San Sebastian by night [Photo: unattributed]    

I spent six months there. I was studying Spanish at university and San Seb was where we were sent as an obligatory part of the degree course. I also got six months in Germany, as I was also studying German. But that's for another day.

San Sebastian - My Story

I returned to Donostia (the name in euskera - Basque - that the city is now officially known by) for three more summers. I loved it!

And I vowed to myself that one day I would emigrate to Spain to live. I eventually managed that 38 years later, but I chose Ronda (Malaga) not SanSe.

Bay of La Concha, San Sebastian [Spain.info]    

There are many reasons for that choice, which I shan't list here, but I still have a soft spot for San Sebastian.

And now the international Press has declared that this Spanish city is the most perfect in the world.

I feel vindicated. I discovered it first!

La prensa internacional se rinde a esta ciudad española: "Es la más perfecta del mundo"

As reported in the Spanish daily La Razón, Spain is the second most-visited country in the world after France.

Yet, if you take out the visitors who flock to Disneyland Paris, Spain leaps into first place in the whole of the world.

Their reporter, known just as Nora, reports that: 

Apart from a country's history, monuments, and so on, the truth is that its towns and cities are what count. That is why even the international press considers one Spanish city to be "the most perfect in the world," demonstrating its huge admiration for Spain and her islands.

[Kiosko.net]    

From La Concha Beach to unbeatable cuisine: the international press highlights San Sebastián as 'the jewel of Spain and the world'.

Eddi Fiegel, a British journalist specializing in art, music, cinema, gastronomy, and of course, travel, considered it 'the perfect city' in an article in The Telegraph published in early 2025.

Rating a series of European cities she has visited, she gave San Sebastián a ten out of ten, the maximum score.

"This jewel of the Basque Country was one of the favorite vacation destinations of the Spanish royalty at the beginning of the 20th century, partly because of its large sandy beaches, its cool sea breezes, and its Belle Époque architecture, but above all because of its beauty," highlighted the journalist, citing as an example that "during the First World War, Maurice Ravel, Leon Trotsky, and Mata Hari visited San Sebastian; nowadays, it is film stars who go there."

"Especially during the San Sebastian annual film festival," adds Eddi. But she also highlights the city's gastronomy, which she describes as 'unbeatable.'

"San Seb has one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants and top-notch pintxo bars in Spain."

    [Screen Daily]

The U.S. travel website "Islands" also begins by talking about its gastronomy, highlighting that it is "a paradise, home to the most famous cheesecake in the world and twenty Michelin stars."

The website highlights the important culinary culture of San Sebastián, which "is not limited to high-end restaurants, but is also home to pintxos."

"Chefs in this city are always trying to outdo each other, but the classics are unbeatable."

[EL PAIS]    

In another article from the same publication, journalist Rick Steves described San Sebastián as "the coastal city with the most beautiful golden sand beach in Europe."

"It enjoys a privileged location with a golden beach flanked by two peaks and a charming little island off the coast."

The Playa de La Concha received the TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice award for Best Beach in 2024.

[Civitatis]    

Final thought

I haven't been to San Sebastian for years. High time I checked it out again! Maybe next year .....

© The Spanish Fly (Paul Whitelock)
 

Piccies:

Civitatis, EL PAIS, Kiosko.net, Screen Daily, Spain.info, 

Thanks:

Google Translate, La Razon, Paul Whitelock, The Spanish Fly, Wikipedia

, 

Tags:

arquitectura Belle époque, Basque, Civitatis, Donostia, Eddi Fiegel, EL PAIS, euskera, Google Translate, Kiosko.net, La Razon, León Trotsky, Mata Hari, Maurice Ravel, Michelin, País Vasco, Paul Whitelock, pintxos, Playa de la Concha, Rick Steve, Screen Daily, Spain.info, The Spanish Fly, The Telegraph, Travelers' Choice, TripAdvisor,